11 Best Cagayan De Oro Tourist Spots And Things To Do in Cagayan De Oro (Travel Guide)

Don’t know where to go or where start looking for the best tourist places to explore? Just searching for “Cagayan de Oro tourist spots“? Then worry no more; just continue reading our Cagayan de Oro travel guide as we give you a tour of the best places to visit in Cagayan de Oro! Looking for somewhere to be entertained, be in awe, or just wanting to get out of the city and explore Cagayan de Oro’s lush environment? Then please read on further in this article as we give you our take on the 11 best tourist spots to visit and the things you can do in Cagayan de Oro! And read here our full guide to visit Camiguin!

How to get to Cagayan de Oro

Cagayan de Oro is located in Northern Mindanao. There are many ways to go here, but be sure to do your own research on how to go to Cagayan de Oro and navigate your way all around the city. No worries, though, because we will give suggestions on the best ways on how to get to Cagayan de Oro City.

By Plane

The easiest way to get to Cagayan de Oro is definitely by plane. You can purchase cheaper flights online if you decide to book usually 2-3 months before your planned date of visit, go ahead and check out Cebu Pacific. Also, the weather here can be a bit unpredictable. It could be boiling hot during the summer, or too rainy around December to January. So it’s better if you mentally prepare yourself ahead of time, unless those are the type of climates you’re used to, then, welcome!

By Bus

There are buses and regular trips going to Cagayan de Oro from Iligan City, Butuan, Balingoan, and Davao City. We took a night bus coming from Davao and it took us 8-9 hours to get to Cagayan de Oro. Read more here about our experience in Samal Island Davao.

By Ship/Boat

There are regular trips to and from Manila, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Bacolod,Iloilo. The schedule and the trips can be modified and cancelled because of weather conditions, especially during rainy season.

Cagayan de Oro Travel Guide

Best time to visit Cagayan de Oro

There are many things to consider when timing your trip to a destination. Fortunately, planning your travels to Cagayan de Oro won’t be so complicated as the Philippines already has 2 seasons, wet and dry. Even more lucky is how Cagayan de Oro doesn’t usually experience typhoons but receive scattered rain showers and a few depressions during the rainy season. If you’d like to go to Cagayan de Oro on its sunniest months, the best time to visit Cagayan de Oro is from March to June.

Transportation Around Cagayan de Oro

Like any metropolitan in the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro can be explored by riding jeepneys, buses and taxis. Another convenient way of going around Cagayan de Oro is the multicab, a small truck that takes passengers from specific routes much like a jeepney. You can also find vehicles similar to Thailand’s tuk-tukcalled motorella in Cagayan de Oro.

When riding a taxi, make sure to find a driver that will let you pay by the meter. Don’t try to negotiate or agree with a price the driver dictates to avoid getting ripped off. Jeepneys are much cheaper but may be a bit challenging for some foreigners. However, Cagayan de Oro is dubbed as “The City of Golden Friendship” so talking to locals and asking about transportation routes won’t be a problem.

Daily Budget for Cagayan de Oro

Visitors from Western countries that are used to dealing in euros and dollars will be delighted to find that Cagayan de Oro and the Philippine peso cost less than what they’re used to spending. There are many cheap options for food, lodging and transportation if you’re wise enough to do as the locals do.

For example, jeepneys have a flat rate of 9 PHP while taxis start their meters at 40 PHP. Also, meals at good but inexpensive local restaurants cost around 100-120 PHP while mid-budget places go for around 500-800 PHP for a dinner for two. That’s just around $9-15 USD for a couple of three-course meals!

There are rooms in transient homes, pension houses and B&Bs that only cost around 400-800 PHP. If you want to try a mid-range hotel in Cagayan de Oro, you can find a room for around 900-1500 PHP. Luxury rooms in Cagayan de Oro are available for 1,700-3,700 PHP, which is only $32-70 USD. Not bad, right? AirBnB is also available in Cagayan de Oro starting from 1500-2000 PHP. For those who want to try it, you can click here to get $30 USD off your first booking with AirBnB.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get straight in to our main topic: Cagayan de Oro tourist spots.

We have already introduced to you a little bit of information and as well as a guide to some of the best restaurants in Cagayan de Oro, so now we will give you all you need to know about the places you could visit, Cagayan de Oro’s best tourist spots and even attractions in its nearby provinces!

Here are some Cagayan de Oro tourist spots to visit!

1. Seven Seas Waterpark

Image Source | Project Lupad

This is a newly built recreational area and the first ever world class waterpark established in the country, so this is one of the Cagayan de Oro tourist spots to see. It has grown quite a name for itself and has been visited by many tourists and locals because of the many thrilling rides and slides such as the Cyclone and Abyss Tornado Ride. The Seven Seas Waterpark can be found at Barra, Opol, so go ahead and visit this place where no one is too young or too old to have fun!

2. Larry’s Hill and Hugo Sky Lounge

This is one of the newest attractions in Cagayan de Oro, specifically at Amaya View (formerly Sierra del Oro) at Barangay Indahag. The place has a wide variety of things to enjoy like paragliding, the maze adventure and the ball pit, as well! Larry’s Hill doesn’t only have all these amazing attractions to enjoy but also has a stunning view of Cagayan de Oro’s western area. There are surely more developments coming their way so better visit the place and maybe snap a photo of the four ‘Transformers’ figures seen near the entrance.

On the other hand, Hugo Sky Lounge is another wonderful place where you could get a stunning view of the entire city and its surrounding green nature. You can also grab a bite here since this is also actually a restaurant. They sure serve great food!

3. High Ridge

If you want to enjoy another picturesque view of the city while dining in a restaurant, you can visit High Ridge. Why not view the sunset while enjoying a meal with a couple of friends or perhaps a special someone? Now, that sounds like a great date! The view from High Ridge at night is considered one of the best in the city. I mean, who wouldn’t love to admire the downtown part of Cagayan de Oro from this wonderful tourist spot?

4. Mapawa Nature Park

One of the most beautiful and breathtaking tourist spots in Cagayan de Oro is the Mapawa Nature Park. This forest park is located at Barangay Cugman, and it offers wide variety of things to do such as climbing or swimming near the waterfalls, horseback riding, canyoneering and also cliff jumping if you’re feeling brave! You would not only enjoy all the activities they offer but you could also have fun with nature surrounding you. When you visit Mapawa Nature park, you can just relax, go on a hike, or maybe even set up a camp in the forest. Just be sure to clean up after yourself. Leave no trace behind!

5. Catanico Falls

This is one of the several wonders of nature located in Barangay F.S. Catanico, Cagayan de Oro which is only 20 minutes away from the heart of the city. You can rent out picnic huts here and they also have public bathrooms for you to use. Truly a pocket paradise for nature lovers! Click here to read our experience in Kawasan Falls, the most amazing waterfalls in the Philippines!

6. Mintugsok Falls

This is yet another amazing waterfalls for the outdoor enthusiasts! Mintugsok Falls is just between the central point of Indahag and Malasag Mountains which could be accessed in two ways: trail hiking from Indahag and river trekking from Mapawa Nature Park. Yes, it is near another destination featured in this article, so we’re sure you’ll enjoy back-to-back adventures in those lovely spots. This is definitely an interesting Cagayan de Oro tourist spot!

7. Ultra Winds Mountain Resort

Planning to get out of the loud city to unwind and just be one with nature? Come visit Ultra Winds Mountain Resort where you get to stay on a resort sitting on top of a mountain and overlooking Cagayan de Oro City! This is truly one of the best places to go and it is also a great venue for weddings! They offer very nice and spacious rooms, a restaurant, as well as a gorgeous infinity pool. It’s definitely one hell of a view while relaxing by the pool.

More Cagayan de Oro tourist spots to visit in nearby provinces!

Now we want to introduce to you some of the wonderful and truly beautiful tourist spots in Cagayan de Oro’s nearby provinces like Bukidnon, El Salvador, and Iligan City!

8. Dahilayan Adventure Park

Ever feel like enjoying the great outdoors and just feel the cool breeze of the nature? You’ll definitely find it here at Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, a place not far from Cagayan de Oro! If you want to try out ziplining, racing down the hill or doing a 120-foot drop, you should head on to this amazing attraction that you’ll instantly fall in love with. They not only have great activities to enjoy with your friends and family, but also offer places to stay if you plan on spending a couple of days here. Dahilayan Adventure Park also has a restaurant right by the entrance where you could warm yourself up with a cup of coffee (because it could get really cold here) or dine with an amazing view of nature. I definitely guarantee you’ll leave this amazing place begging for more!

9. Divine Mercy Shrine

Image Source | Municipality of El Salvador.

You can visit a beautiful Catholic pilgrimage site located at El Salvador City, which isn’t too far from Cagayan de Oro also. This has become an amazing tourist attraction and many devotees flock to Divine Mercy Shrine to attend mass or join the events during Holy Week, the Feast of Mercy and the Celebration of the Immaculate Concepcion. You can attend mass in the field shown in the photo above or inside their spacious chapel just behind the 50-feet statue of the Divine Mercy Jesus. You can also climb to the heart of Jesus guided by the people working there, and you can silently pray inside the heart. Isn’t that just lovely? They also have a lot of souvenir shops and food booths if you’re feeling hungry. Helpfultip: If you plan on visiting the shrine, please avoid being too loud or causing so much attention since many people come not just to snap photos and enjoy the view but also to pray and reflect quietly. Please clean up after yourself as well especially if you plan on camping during their feasts. Overall, Divine Mercy Shrine is a beautiful place and a must-visit tourist spot!

10. Tinago Falls

Looking for place to relax and cool down? Head on to Iligan City’s amazing Tinago Falls! Iligan City is just about an hour away from Cagayan de Oro and is truly one of the most breathtaking places to visit. If you enjoy trekking, then you’re in luck because it is quite a hike to reach Tinago Falls. However, we can assure you that once you’re there, you’ll immediately be stunned by its beauty! The water is really blue and cold, and you can go under the waterfalls by riding the raft. There are cottages just across the waterfall if you decide to stay for a while and bring some food. We definitely recommend you visit here and enjoy the lush nature!

11. Mt. Kitanglad Agri-Ecological Techno-Demo Farm

Image Source | Axa Jojo Sulatan

Well, that was a mouthful! This is one of the newest tourist attractions in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon and it’s currently under development. This is a really great place for fans of the wonderful book and film series The Lord of the Rings as the structures here closely resemble the Hobbit’s house! The lodges in the farm are still being created so we should definitely watch out for those.

Where to eat in Cagayan De Oro?

If you want to try out a unique style of street food, head on to Kanto! It is located in Don Apolinar Velez Street. Just right across it is a famous milk tea shop in Cagayan de Oro, Chingkeetea! If you’re feeling hungry and just want to chill out for a while, those two places are one of the best combinations to munch on anytime of the day. While you’re there, you should definitely visit and walk around Cagayan de Oro’s Divisoria. You’ll get to see other amazing restaurants, bistros, and cafes which weren’t mentioned in our previous article featuring the best restaurants in Cagayan de Oro.

Higalaay Festival in Cagayan de Oro

Held during the 28th of August is Cagayan de Oro’s famous festival called Higalaay. Literally meaning “Friendship Festival,” the Higalaay celebrates the warmth and color of Cagayan de Oro’s culture. There are several traditional events during Higalaay Festival like a carnival parade, a float parade, a religious procession in honor of the city’s patron Saint Augustine, a 3-day culinary competition and a fireworks competition.

Shopping in Cagayan de Oro

You’ll see different boutiques to buy really cheap outfits from here and there are also quite a few thrift stores around the place. Class A shoes of brands such as Nike, Adidas, Vans and many more are available in Divisoria.

History in Cagayan De Oro

Plaza Divisoria which is formerly known as Golden Friendship Park, is a place filled with that are dedicated to local and national heroes like former President Ramon Magsaysay, Dr. Jose Rizal, and former Mayor Justiniano R. Borja. Plaza Divisoria also has quite a bit of history since the Kagay-anon soldiers who fought during the Philippine-American War were buried underneath the monument in the park.

Where To Stay in Cagayan de Oro?

You should definitely do lots of research about where to stay in Cagayan de Oro. But if you want to stay in budget hotels or affordable ones near the heart of the city and as a few hang out spots, check out establishments like GC Suites Hotel in Pabayo-Hayes St., Traveler’s Pod near SM Downtown Premier, Mallberry Suites Business Hotel which is just a few minutes walk from Limketkai Mall, and many more! There are a number of Cagayan de Oro hotels and inns around city that are walking distance to malls and other cool places. You can also heck the links below for more info.

Ruben Arribas is a Spanish traveler who has traveled more than 70+ countries around the world. He believes in travel without money. Recently, he finished a bicycle trip, 9500 km, from Madrid to North Cape.

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